3 value free agents the Steelers should consider in 2018

When the free agent market officially opens on March 14, there will be plenty of high priced options available fans will be hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers sign.

Spoiler alert, none of them will be joining the Black and Gold in 2018.

Dismiss any notion of adding Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner or New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and set your sights a little lower. Even when the Steelers have had the salary cap space to afford a high profile signing, it is not something they have done.

With funds in short supply this offseason, the only new free agents Pittsburgh will be adding is value signings made when most of the high profile names have already found new homes. Talent can still be found without committing large amounts of salary cap space and these three players could be perfect for the Steelers at the right price.

Pierre Desir, Cornerback, 27

Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, it has not been an easy path to a starting role for Desir. Two disappointing seasons in Cleveland culminated with his release in 2016 and he would have stops in San Diego and Seattle before joining the Indianapolis Colts at the start of last year.

Desir would become a full-time starter by Week 8 and would record his first ever interception against the Steelers in Week 10. A pectoral injury ended his season prematurely in Week 13, leaving him with 32 tackles, seven passes defended and one interception for the year.

While the Steelers appear to be set at their starting positions with Artie Burns and Joe Haden, there could be room for a veteran player if either William Gay or Coty Sensabaugh do not return in 2018.

The coaching staff has plenty of inexperienced options on the roster in Mike Hilton, Cam Sutton and Brian Allen, but the value of having a veteran talent capable of starting at either outside position would be a huge benefit if the Steelers lost a starter to injury once again next year.

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